EDA settles on Westridge Place for city daycare building
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NEW ULM -- "Westridge Place" will be the official name of the pod model child care building at 1314 Westridge Road.
Last year, the New Ulm Economic Development Authority (EDA) purchased a property at 1314 Westridge Road to create a facility to operate a pod model daycare to alleviate the pressure of the daycare shortage in New Ulm.
EDA staff is currently rehabilitating the building to operate as a child care center, and that includes naming it. Last month, the EDA board reviewed submitted names for the building but was unable to settle on any of the suggestions. The board wanted the name to be descriptive without sounding too institutional. It was decided to table the naming decision until April.
During Monday's meeting, board member Les Schultz posed the name "Westridge Childcare Cooperative." Schultz said the name was suggested by a citizen who thought the name should be tied to the street. Schultz thought the "Westridge" name would work best.
"Remember, we are naming a building that is holding a daycare," he said. "We're not naming a daycare facility."
Board member Tom Berg supported the name. He believed the public only wanted to know where a building was and what it did. Naming it "Westridge" would simplify the issue as most people know where Westridge Road is located.
City Manager Chris Dalton suggested the board refrain from calling it a "cooperative" since it is not technically a co-op. The building will ultimately house multiple childcare businesses, which will each have their own name. He suggested "Westridge Building" to further simplify the name.
Housing Coordinator Heather Bregel liked "Westridge Building" as a name because it gave the EDA flexibility. She said if for some reason a pod model daycare is no longer needed at this location, it could be converted into another purpose and retain the same name.
Mayor Kathleen Backer suggested including the word "Place" in the title. She said "Richardson Place" on Minnesota Street was a location name that housed other businesses and organizations.
Schultz said he liked "place" better than "building."
There was a brief discussion on whether "New Ulm" should be included in the title, but Bregel felt it was more inclusive to families living outside New Ulm. She believed many people who don't live in town but work in New Ulm might want want to take their children to Westridge Place.
Schultz made a motion to name it "Westridge Place," with a second from Board chairwoman Andrea Boettger.
It was approved with no opposition.
The board awarded RW Carlstrom the construction bid for Westridge Place for up to $460,900. RW Carlstrom was the low bidder for the project.
Project Architect Eric Oleson with Oleson & Hobbie Architects said he previously worked with RW Carlstrom and they had completed many projects in New Ulm. He supported awarding Carlstrom the contract.
Dalton said this bid was under the original estimate, but the staff was continuing to find grants to further lower the cost.